Chapter 175
Chapter 175
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: Chapter 32: Tag (7)
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‘Of course I have to.’
If there was a chance to gain Karos’s power, I couldn’t let it slip away.
It was the only means I had right now to ensure my family’s safety.
If taking on some risk meant I could acquire more of Karos’s power, I’d gladly do it.
‘That said, I’m not about to run over like an obedient dog and just grab his hand.’
I’d confirmed with my own eyes that it was genuine Karos power.
‘In that case...’
I twisted my lips and held up the power voucher I’d been gripping on the spear shaft.
“First, I need to verify if what you said is true.”
I’d never used Agnotia’s power before.
‘It’s supposed to distinguish lies, hypocrisy, betrayal, and deception.’
Assuming, of course, that this voucher was the real deal.
As soon as I made it clear I intended to check his intentions first, Gilenios let out a hollow breath.
“Hah, you wouldn’t use it when I told you to, and now you want to.”
“Honestly, I don’t really want to use it. How am I supposed to know if this is real power or not?”
It came with that much risk on my end.
“So I need at least a minimal hazard pay.”
“Hazard pay? What the hell does that...”
Gilenios shot back with a look like I was spouting nonsense, then suddenly snatched the voucher tight in his fist.
“Wait, so...”
He even glared at me with sharp eyes.
“You’re saying give this up as hazard pay? Separate from handing over your hand?”
“You catch on quick.”
I nodded without flinching under his fierce gaze.
Gilenios started trembling with rage.
But unlike before, he didn’t throw a tantrum and bark.
He’d been practically rampaging just moments ago, but now he was holding back.
‘Looks like...’
Shaking hands with me must have been more important to him than I thought.
The way he endured so much the instant a possibility arose suggested as much.
“Fine, whatever. If you’re doing it, get it over with quick.”
In the end, he accepted my borderline unreasonable demand without protest.
‘Then maybe I should push a bit harder?’
If I could extract a generous price for this absurd situation, it might be worth a shot.
Plus, it’d rattle him in the process.
‘If I get lucky, I might even wring out the real reason he’s approaching me.’
Instead of using Agnotia’s power right away, I shook my head.
Gilenios bellowed.
“What now?!”
I wagged my finger at him.
“Upfront payment.”
A vein bulged on Gilenios’s temple.
But again, he didn’t erupt in shouts.
Instead, he ground his teeth and flung a Karos power voucher my way.
‘He’s giving in too easily.’
I snatched the paper slicing through the air and shoved it straight into my inventory.
“Do it already!”
Having already taken the advance, he had no intention of backing out.
I eyed Agnotia’s power voucher with lingering unease.
‘Worst case, I’ll use the Karos power I just got.’
Even if this posed a risk, I could resolve it without major loss.
After steadying my breath, I tore Agnotia’s power voucher.
“Hup.”
Contrary to my suspicions, the power was real.
Just like the previous two times, a surge of exaltation filled me as I seized a force no human could possess, channeled through divinity.
My eyes were probably glowing golden by now.
That must be why Gilenios extended his hand toward me and spoke.
“You won’t lose out by taking my hand. And I’m not trying to harm you.”
In other words, quit stalling and grab it already.
‘No foul stench, no black smoke.’
Agnotia’s power showed no lies, hypocrisy, betrayal, or deception in his words.
Incredibly, it confirmed he was telling the truth.
But instead of taking his hand, I picked at my ear.
I even blew on my finger with a bored expression.
“Even if what you’re saying is true, that doesn’t mean I have to hold your hand.”
If he really wanted it that badly, he’d pay more.
“Tell me why you’re so obsessed with my hand, and I might do it for free.”
As I teased him with a wave of my hand, Gilenios muttered through gritted teeth.
“You little punk...”
Curse all you want. Call me petty. I didn’t care.
I had no desire to cooperate with him willingly.
So I crossed my arms, digging in my heels.
Finally, Gilenios let out a long sigh and used another power.
Not the most pleasant outcome.
‘He won’t spill it to the end.’
Even after I deliberately provoked him, he chose silence.
What could possibly make holding my hand worth all this endurance?
As my doubts deepened, Gilenios kept muttering to himself.
“You know this guy’s hooked on your powers, so why’d Agnotia send me? Do you have any idea what I went through? I could’ve just given him this. What? No need to know? Make me suffer and don’t even explain?”
But listening closely, it didn’t sound like mere mumbling—it felt like a conversation with someone.
‘Karos...? No way.’
From what I knew, that was impossible.
Direct communion with gods only happened in temples.
And even then, only when the god felt like responding—an inefficient method.
‘Apostles aren’t exempt from that rule, right?’
So who the hell was he talking to?
In the brief moment I mulled it over, Gilenios produced a new power voucher.
He flaunted it toward me triumphantly.
‘That makes three Karos powers now.’
Despite the tangled mess, the satisfaction from three Karos powers was immense.
I beckoned with a pleased expression, urging him to hand it over.
But Gilenios shot me a sharp look and murmured.
“This time, I want my upfront payment.”
I didn’t want to drag this out any longer either.
So despite my scowl, I obliged.
The distance to Gilenios wasn’t far—just over three meters with the spear between us.
Moments later, we stood facing each other, close enough for one person to fit in the gap.
Gilenios thrust out his hand expectantly.
‘Feels slimy, but...’
For one more Karos power, it was time to pay up.
I swallowed a sigh and clasped his hand.
Instantly, static crackled across my game interface, icons flickering with noise.
I tried to yank my hand free.
“Done?”
But Gilenios was faster.
He shook off my hand with a firm grip.
“Such an easy thing, tsk.”
I glanced between my empty hand and him.
“Planning to explain?”
You said it wouldn’t harm me, but no explanation.
Maybe now that it was over, I’d get answers—but no.
“The time isn’t right.”
The same words from just days ago.
“That’s the message.”
Chills crept into my eyes.
‘Karos.’
I didn’t know how, but Karos could communicate with his apostle outside the temple.
I wanted to probe further, but Gilenios turned away first.
I snatched the voucher he tossed before it hit the ground, and right after, he vanished like smoke.
I stared at the spot he’d occupied, let out a hollow laugh, and stored the spear in my inventory.
‘Sudden arrival, sudden departure.’
An unpleasant encounter, but I hadn’t walked away empty-handed.
‘Gaining extra Karos powers is a huge win.’
It also confirmed Karos’s favor, erasing my lingering doubts.
‘Something’s brewing about me behind the scenes.’
But those orchestrating it had zero intention of explaining properly.
‘Pisses me off pretty good.’
I glared at the hand I’d clasped with Gilenios’s.
“Whew.”
At least it wasn’t harmful, which was a relief.
‘With divine power as guarantee, I can trust that much.’
Regardless of my feelings, the Seven Gods’ power was real.
So today’s events wouldn’t threaten my safety.
I stored the Karos powers—now up from one to three—and exhaled deeply.
Then I rubbed my eyes.
‘Traces of divinity must linger.’
Heading back to the banquet hall like this would draw eyes.
But ditching on my own felt off with Gretman in mind.
‘Maybe reveal my trait first?’
Unwelcome, but it’d boost my presence and influence.
‘Might make uprooting Jang Lun’s crew and the church’s rot easier.’
If so, I could endure the hassle.
The church higher-ups seemed to know anyway, so mentioning it first for gain wasn’t bad.
Decision made, I turned toward the banquet hall.
But I couldn’t take a step.
“Ugh!”
Black smoke billowed from the banquet hall’s direction.
Goosebumps erupted across my skin.
‘Black smoke...!’
The black smoke I’d witnessed through divine power writhed ceaselessly, like a living thing.
As if intent on devouring everything there.
It was more grotesque and revolting than I’d imagined.
Remembering I’d been laughing, talking, breathing in there moments ago made me want to claw my skin off.
The thought that I might be one of those emitting it swelled self-loathing.
Mixed with contempt for others and disillusionment with reality, my stomach churned.
Just looking at the black smoke was torture.
A sense of my very existence draining in real time.
Unconsciously, I backed away, then turned and fled.
I don’t remember how I ran or where.
When I came to, I’d escaped the banquet building, doubled over and vomiting.
When bile rose with nothing left to expel.
Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps approached.
Reflexively, I drew a dagger from my inventory.
But before I could swing, an inexplicable mutter came from above.
“You’ve grown, after all.”
It was Gretman. I looked up at him through hazy eyes.
‘These bastards really...’
What the hell are you doing behind my back?
Is it related to why you brought me to the imperial capital?
I needed answers, to recap events and probe him.
But the black smoke’s shock hit harder than expected.
The price of glimpsing what humans shouldn’t?
Rational thought shattered.
Finally, I collapsed face-first with a thud.
Right into my own vomit.
An experience I never wanted to repeat.
Goddamn System